Michigan DT Mason Graham Adds Cleveland, Vegas Visits
The draft’s top-ranked defensive tackle by several analysts continues to make the rounds with the teams in the top 10 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft. Michigan’s Mason Graham is certainly a likely candidate to come off the board early; the big question is just where exactly he’ll go. After taking visits with the holders of the Nos. 4 & 9 picks, Graham has added Cleveland and Las Vegas to his planned visits, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
The Cleveland visit, which is taking place tomorrow, is likely just the Browns doing their due diligence. The Browns hold the No. 2 overall pick, and their choices have seemingly been needled down to Abdul Carter out of Penn State or Travis Hunter or Shedeur Sanders out of Colorado.
Miami’s Cam Ward is favored to come off the board at No. 1 overall to the Titans, leaving Carter, Hunter, and Sanders as possibilities for the Browns. With quarterback being viewed as a crucial need in Cleveland, Sanders has long been viewed as a strong possibility. Hunter has recently taken the odds as the betting favorite to land in Cleveland as a complimentary, impact weapon across from Jerry Jeudy on offense as a wide receiver.
The team just signed former Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to a record extension, but their defense did not house a strong pass rusher besides him in 2024. Currently Isaiah McGuire (2.5 sacks in 2024), Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (2.0), and Alex Wright (1.0) are set to lineup across from Garrett, so adding Carter would be huge.
The Browns also lost starting defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson to the Cardinals this offseason, so Graham could fit in as a new impact interior defender next to Shelby Harris. With Carter, Hunter, and Sanders all showing greater impact potential, though, it’s hard to see Graham heading to Ohio. If the Browns make a surprise decision to trade out of the No. 2 spot, though, Graham becomes an extremely viable option.
The Raiders, holders of the No. 6 overall draft pick, seem like a much more realistic possibility for Graham. Their visit will take place on Tuesday. Las Vegas saw an impressive 34 games missed from its expected top defensive line in 2024, and even if the line were fully healthy and it had a weak spot, it would be the second defensive tackle role. Graham would fit in beautifully next to Christian Wilkins between Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce.
The only thing that could suggest Graham doesn’t end up in Las Vegas is the fact that the Raiders have several other holes to address. Namely, running back, wide receiver, and secondary have been noted as areas that could use improvement.
Falcons Owner Arthur Blank On Draft Approach; Team Hosted Texas LT Kelvin Banks Jr.
4:55pm: D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes, to no surprise, the Falcons have “heavily scouted” the top edge rushers in the 2025 class. The same is also true, however, of offensive tackles. That helps explain Atlanta’s interest in Banks, whom Ledbetter projects to the Falcons in his latest mock draft. Considerable focus on the defensive side of the ball would come as no surprise, but other options appear to be on the table regarding the first round.
11:55am: The Falcons finished in the bottom-10 in terms of both total defense and scoring defense in 2024, so they are widely projected to pick a defensive player in the first round of this month’s draft. Owner Arthur Blank recently offered further support for that belief.
“The emphasis during the draft will be certainly on the defensive side of the ball,” Blank said at last week’s league meetings (via Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com). “It’s pretty obvious to everybody, I would say.”
Atlanta fired one-and-done defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake this offseason and replaced him with Jeff Ulbrich. One of Ulbrich’s primary tasks will be coaxing more production out of a pass rush that finished with the second-fewest sacks in the league (31) last season, and to that end, the team has held visits with potential first-round EDGE talents like Marshall’s Mike Green and Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart.
Of course, the Falcons are not limiting their pre-draft evaluations to defensive players. Interestingly, the team recently held a private workout with Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., per longtime Longhorn beat writer Brian Davis. Atlanta GM Terry Fontenot and HC Raheem Morris were in attendance.
Banks is currently ranked as the 31st-best prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s latest big board, and Jeremiah says some clubs view Banks as a guard at the professional level. That said, he certainly has the talent to stick as a tackle, and many recent mocks project him to be selected in the first half of the first round. The Falcons presently hold the No. 15 pick and could therefore be in position to select Banks with that choice, but he is likely to be gone by the time Atlanta is back on the clock with its No. 46 pick.
The Falcons have invested considerable draft capital and dollars into their O-line, and they currently have Jake Matthews set to reprise his long-standing role as their starting LT. Matthews, 33, may be nearing the end of his career, but the team recently authorized an extension that keeps him under club control through 2028.
On the right side, Banks could serve as a near-future replacement for RT Kaleb McGary, who is entering the final year of his contract and whose trade or release would yield considerable cap savings. But McGary currently operates as the blindside protector for second-year quarterback and southpaw Michael Penix Jr., so it is unclear if the team would be comfortable plugging a rookie into that post right away.
Even if the Falcons are one of the teams that view Banks as an interior blocker, he may not see immediate playing time if he were to land in Atlanta. The team currently has 2023 second-rounder Matthew Bergeron penciled in at left guard after he turned in a quality 2024 season, and right guard Chris Lindstrom is coming off his third straight Pro Bowl campaign and is (like Matthews) under contract through 2028.
With so many resources tied up in their offensive front already and with so many needs on defense, the Falcons were forced to let center Drew Dalman walk in free agency (Dalman signed a three-year, $42MM contract with the Bears). However, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the team is perfectly content to have Ryan Neuzil, who started a career-high eight games last year in relief of an injured Dalman, serve as Penix’s full-time snapper. Per Ledbetter, both Morris and Fontenot have spoken highly of Neuzil’s abilities.
Dolphins High On S Malaki Starks; No Pre-Draft Visit Planned
The Dolphins, as expected, saw Jevon Holland depart on the open market. Since they have also elected not to retain fellow starter Jordan Poyer, safety is a position of need entering the draft. 
Many mock drafts from the end of the 2024 campaign and shortly thereafter understandably connected Miami to safety Malaki Starks. The Georgia product has long been seen as one of the two Day 1 prospects at the position, being joined in that regard by South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori. The latter’s stock has increased since his impressive Combine performance, but Starks is still drawing interest from the Dolphins.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports the team “thinks highly” of Starks, an indication he will receive consideration for the No. 13 pick. Jackson notes no pre-draft visit has been lined up yet, but he adds general manager Chris Grier was in attendance at Georgia’s Pro Day. Information gleaned from that event will help inform the Dolphins’ decision with their top selection.
Starks made an immediate impact for the Bulldogs, starting 14 games as a freshman for the national champions. He followed that up with a highly productive season, racking up three interceptions and seven pass deflections en route to first-team All-SEC and All-American nods. The junior was unable to match those feats in 2024, with his production taking a step back. Still, he earned second-team honors on both fronts and continued to occupy a highly versatile role on Georgia’s defense.
To be clear, Jackson writes the Dolphins have strong evaluations of “several other” prospects in the range of their first-round selection. Considering Miami is also among the potential suitors which has hosted Emmanwori, Starks is certainly not a lock to be selected by the team. Nevertheless, safety is a position to watch as the Dolphins look to further re-tool at that spot during the remainder of the offseason.
Returnees Elijah Campbell and Patrick McMorris have been joined on the roster by free agent signings Ashtyn Davis and Ifeatu Melifonwu. It would come as no surprise if one or more rookies were added to that group, and Starks could be among them.
At Least Six Teams Planning Private Workout For Penn State TE Tyler Warren
APRIL 6: Warren only has one official top-30 visit on deck, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. In a further sign of how highly regarded he is, Schultz adds one team set to select in the top 10 has canceled its private workout with Warren. A long wait on the opening night of the draft should not be expected.
MARCH 30: Penn State tight end Tyler Warren is seen as one of the top players at his position in this year’s draft class, and many pundits view him as the best TE option. As such, Warren joined college teammate and fellow first-round prospect Abdul Carter in sitting out the Nittany Lions’ Pro Day on Friday, with Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com reporting Warren will instead work out for a handful of interested clubs prior to the draft.
Pauline refers to Warren as an “acquired taste” and says not every team has him as the premier TE in the 2025 pool. At least one club views last year’s John Mackey Award winner as the fourth-best tight end in the class, and draftniks like Pauline and ESPN’s Matt Miller consider him the second-best prospect behind Michigan’s Colston Loveland. NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., meanwhile, place Warren at the top of the TE hierarchy.
One way or another, Warren should hear his name called in Round 1. Pauline had previously reported that the Jets are “infatuated” with the soon-to-be 23-year-old, and he had also noted the Colts have significant interest. Unsurprisingly, then, both New York and Indianapolis – which hold the No. 7 and No. 14 overall picks, respectively – plan to bring Warren in for a private workout.
The Saints (No. 9 overall), Bears (No. 10), Chargers (No. 23), and Rams (No. 26) are also on Warren’s itinerary, per Pauline. None of those clubs have the same glaring TE need as the Jets and Colts, but with the top of the Bolts’ TE depth chart comprised of Will Dissly and new acquisition Tyler Conklin – who recently signed a modest one-year accord – a high-ceiling addition would make sense there. Likewise, the Rams’ Tyler Higbee is eligible for free agency next year and is entering his age-32 campaign, which makes both Los Angeles outfits logical Warren suitors.
It would be somewhat surprising to see Warren fall beyond Indianapolis’ No. 14 pick, because even clubs not named in Pauline’s report (like the Cowboys and their No. 12 selection) profile as legitimate destinations. Encouraged by Brock Bowers’ stunning rookie performance for the Raiders in 2024, clubs with immediate holes to fill at the TE spot could look to Warren as both a short- and long-term fix. The Colts coveted Bowers last season – he was nabbed by Las Vegas two picks before Indianapolis went on the clock – and they may not allow their preferred tight end prospect in 2025 to get away if he is still on the board.
In his final collegiate season, Warren – whose ability to get open underneath and create yards after the catch remind evaluators like Miller (subscription required) of Bowers – posted 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and eight scores. As a Wildcat threat, he added four rushing TDs and one passing TD for good measure.
Jets To Explore Extensions For CB Sauce Gardner, WR Garrett Wilson, OL Alijah Vera-Tucker After Draft
Two members of the Jets’ young core, foundational talents Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson, are extension-eligible for the first time. While new deals for the club’s top two selections of the 2022 draft are not imminent, Connor Hughes of SNY.tv expects negotiations to commence at some point after this month’s draft.
Hughes had previously reported that the Gardner talks are likely to be straightforward. Despite a bit of a regression in his third professional season, there is seemingly no concern over Gardner’s ability to regain the elite form he displayed in his first two campaigns. As such, he is going to reset the cornerback market, which is currently paced by Derek Stingley’s new deal with the Texans that features a $30MM AAV and roughly $48MM in full guarantees.
Coming to terms on a price point for Wilson could prove more difficult. Wilson has had to make do with poor to mediocre quarterback play since entering the league, so even though he has managed to record over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his three NFL seasons, he is not viewed as a player who will top the exploding WR market. Hughes spoke with a few league sources who predicted the Ohio State product would land an AAV between $25MM-$30MM whenever he puts pen to paper.
As of the time of this writing, that would put Wilson somewhere between the 7th- and 12th-highest-paid earner at the receiver position. Tyreek Hill and Brandon Aiyuk earn $30MM per year (with Amon-Ra St. Brown barely above that threshold), while DeVonta Smith earns $25MM per year.
Sometimes forgotten in the extension rumors is offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker, a 2021 first-rounder who is entering the fifth-year option season of his rookie deal and is presently on track for free agency in 2026. ESPN’s Rich Cimini says new GM Darren Mougey will also examine Vera-Tucker’s contract situation after the upcoming draft.
AVT missed significant time due to injury in 2022 and 2023 but rebounded to play 15 games last season. When he has been on the field, he has been a quality blocker and has seen action and both tackle spots and both guard spots.
That said, he only covered LT and RT as a result of injuries to other players, and last year, he lined up exclusively at RG. It sounds like he will stay there for the long haul, as Mougey says he views Vera-Tucker as a guard (via Hughes). So even though the club currently has a glaring need at right tackle, Mougey will need to address that need in some other way.
Running back Breece Hall is unlikely to be the subject of offseason extension talks, as was reported previously. The contract-year back has yet to regain the level of explosiveness he displayed in his injury-shortened rookie year, and new head coach Aaron Glenn wants to utilize an RB-by-committee approach that features Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis (via Cimini). That would stand to limit Hall’s production in his platform season, and as Cimini observes, Glenn’s comments could certainly fuel trade speculation.
Despite Hall’s inability to recapture his 2022 form, Cimini believes he would generate interest from rival teams.
Browns Seen As Favorite To Draft Travis Hunter At No. 2?
Provided the Titans select Cam Ward first overall, the Browns will have their choice of the consensus top two prospects in the 2025 draft class. Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter have each received plenty of attention from teams at the top of the board, and it would come as no surprise if one wound up being selected by Cleveland second overall. 
A report from last week stated Carter was in the lead with respect to which way the Browns were leaning. Cleveland has done extensive work on him, of course, but more recently signs have emerged that teams do not feel Carter will be the eventual pick at the No. 2 slot. If that proves to be true, Hunter looms as a logical option.
On that point, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports there is a “growing belief” around the NFL that the Heisman winner is the Browns’ top choice at this point (subscription required). Howe adds Cleveland’s evaluations of Hunter have been strong throughout the pre-draft process. Taking that route would still leave the Browns in need of a quarterback addition, something of note given the team’s homework including Ward (who is seen as out of reach) as well as Shedeur Sanders.
The latter would give Cleveland a potential long-term answer under center, something needed given the extent to which the Deshaun Watson acquisition has not paid off. Questions about Sanders’ NFL ceiling have led to a wide range regarding his draft stock, though, a stark contrast to the cases of both Carter and Hunter. Both of those prospects are seen as locks for the top five, although Hunter’s transition to the NFL will require a decision regarding his position. Cleveland has been linked to using the Fred Biletnikoff winner as a receiver, something which appears to be in line with the current view of other teams as well.
Hunter had previously been seen more as a corner, something which came as little surprise given his success on the defensive side of the ball (culminating in his Chuck Bednarik award win in 2024) and the comparative scarcity of true No. 1 cover men in the NFL. In any case, where Hunter lands will be key in determining his workload early in his career. The Giants (set to draft third overall) and Patriots (fourth) represent suitable and expected destinations in the event the Browns go in another direction.
During Colorado’s Friday pro day, the Browns and Giants had large groups on hand. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes 14 members of New York’s organization were present; in Cleveland’s case, 11 people – including general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski – were in attendance. Plenty of time remains for opinions to be changed in either camp, but Hunter will no doubt remain a key target for both teams leading up to the first round.
Roger Goodell Praises Revamped Playoff Proposal
The NFL began using record-based home-field advantage in the playoffs in 1975, but it took until 1990 for every division winner to receive a guaranteed postseason home game. The Lions have challenged a long-held norm by proposing a change to remove the guarantee of a division champion being assured at least one January home tilt.
No change in the NFL’s playoff structure occurred at the league meetings this week, but the Detroit proposal was not voted down. No vote took place, as the league tabled the measure, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. However, some teams supported it. More notably, Roger Goodell offered some praise to what would be a significant change — one that had already come up before the Lions made an official proposal.
“I thought it is a very healthy proposal and a very healthy point that we need to evaluate and continue to look at,” Goodell said, via CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. “It went through many different forms. There was some great data to show that we should really look at some form or version of this. But there was also a really strong point of view that winning the division was the No. 1 thing. When you come into training camp, that’s the goal: win that division first. And should that reward for winning that division be you’re in the playoffs and a home game?”
While competition committee member Mike Tomlin pushed back against stripping division champs of first-round home games, Jones notes the Cowboys were one of the teams that supported a format in which a team’s record — regardless of its divisional finish — dictated the postseason sites. This would have benefited the Vikings last year, as the Lions’ Week 18 win over their division rival pushed 14-3 Minnesota to the No. 5 seed — ahead of an eventual loss to the 10-7 Rams, who rested starters after being assured of a home game by virtue of an NFC West title.
The NFL’s first five post-merger playoff brackets came without records determining home fields, as the sites rotated annually. The 14-0 Dolphins famously had to play the 1972 AFC championship game at Three Rivers Stadium. When the league shifted to record-based home-field determination in 1975, the division winner with the third-best record still had to begin on the road due to only four teams per conference making the playoffs. From 1978-89, each conference’s third-best division champ also began on the road against the No. 2 seed — under a setup featuring one wild-card game and three teams holding first-round byes per conference. The NFL’s move to six-team playoff brackets in 1990 began guaranteeing home games to division champs.
This has produced some interesting matchups, with .500-or-worse teams using the home game to upend better opposition. The 2008 Chargers went from 5-8 to 8-8 and upset the 12-4 Colts in overtime, while Marshawn Lynch‘s “Beastquake” journey powered the 7-9 Seahawks to a win over the defending Super Bowl champion Saints (11-5) in 2010. A Tim Tebow-to-Demaryius Thomas game-winner propelled the 8-8 Broncos to a 2011 wild-card win over the 12-4 Steelers, while a 7-8-1 Panthers team defeated an 11-5 Cardinals squad — one using a third-string QB — in 2014. Washington (2020) and Tampa Bay (2022) also hosted games as sub-.500 teams. Those instances appear to have come up at the meetings.
“There was some discussion potentially about if you’re .500 or less and you won that division, should you also get the home game? I think there was some interest in that also,” Goodell said. “But I think the reality is it was very healthy and I think there will be more discussion of it.”
As a move to 18 games appears inevitable in the not-too-distant future, the prospect of clubs clinching divisions earlier looms. A balance between guaranteeing a division winner a playoff spot but not a home game could help force teams — particularly those with stronger home-field advantages — to keep pushing for higher seeds. Resting starters in Week 18 has become fairly common since the schedule expanded, and this figures to come up — especially with an 18th game all but certain to be added before the 2020s wrap — when owners revisit this discussion.
While the NFL yanking a home game away from division champs would devalue the accomplishment to a degree, it would seem unlikely the divisions would devolve into the fairly meaningless coalitions the NBA uses. Goodell regularly drives changes, and his not dismissing Detroit’s proposal opens the door to this becoming a serious talking point.
Dolphins LT Terron Armstead To Retire
The Dolphins will indeed be without Terron Armstead for 2025 and beyond. The veteran left tackle is retiring, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. 
Armstead’s playing future has been in question this offseason, with many indications pointing to him hanging up his cleats. Miami entered free agency with the presumption that would be the case, and today’s update confirms the team will need to make other plans on the blindside. Armstead’s NFL career will end after 12 seasons.
The most recent comments on the subject from Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel noted the Dolphins were unaware of Armstead’s intentions. This development will not come as a surprise, though, and with plenty of time remaining before the draft Miami will be able to look even more closely into left tackle prospects. Whichever option – in-house or otherwise – takes on a starting gig, replacing Armstead will prove to be a challenge.
The 33-year-old managed to play 15 games in 2024, but as usual he dealt with a number of ailments along the way. Injuries were a constant issue for Armstead, whose three-year Dolphins tenure was preceded by a strong run with the Saints. When at (or even near) full strength, he was among the top left tackles in the league, as illustrated by his five Pro Bowl nods. Rather than trying to manage nagging ailments once again in 2025, though, Armstead will turn his attention to his post-playing days.
One non-void year remains on the former third-rounder’s contract, one which included a pay cut last offseason. Armstead was reported in February to be prepared to once again reduce his base pay, a helpful move given the Dolphins’ cap constraints. None of his base salary (set to check in at the veteran minimum) was locked in as of the 2024 restructure.
In spite of that, Armstead’s pro career proved to be quite lucrative. Starting all but four games (during his rookie year) across his Saints tenure, the Arkansas Pine-Bluff product secured $13MM per season on a five-year New Orleans extension in 2016. While playing out that deal, Armstead remained a consistent performer in terms of PFF evaluation, earning a stellar 90.4 grade in 2018. At no point was he able to log a full season, however, something which informed his free agent departure.
Miami added Armstead on a five-year, $75MM pact in 2022. Expectations were high as a result, and he delivered strong performances when on the field; this past campaign, Armstead registered the fourth-highest PFF grade amongst offensive tackles. Miami will be hard-pressed to enjoy that level of play with a replacement (likely Patrick Paul) next year, but a run of durability will nevertheless be welcomed.
Selected in the second round of last year’s draft, Paul made three starts and logged a 30% snap share. The Houston product could be in line for a much heavier workload in 2025, although Miami could look to this month’s draft to add a starting-caliber option early on. By this point in free agency, few veterans capable of stepping into a first-team role remain on the market.
Overall, Armstead will hang up his cleats after playing 146 combined regular and postseason games. He accumulated roughly $115MM in career earnings.
Cowboys Aiming For WR Addition
In 2025, CeeDee Lamb will of course operate as the focal point of the Cowboys’ passing attack. The team is lacking in depth beyond him at the receiver position as things stand, so to no surprise an addition is being sought out. 
“We’re still open to looking at a really explosive number two that could upgrade us,” Stephen Jones told the media at the league meetings (via the team’s website). “But as I said, I like our room and certainly like the players we currently have.”
Dallas re-signed returner KaVontae Turpin to a three-year, $13.5MM deal this offseason. He has seen his offensive usage increase each year to date, and a continuation of that trend could result in a rotational role in the passing game. The Cowboys’ lone outside WR addition so far is Parris Campbell, who should not be considered a roster lock based on his play with the Colts and Eagles.
Even if Turpin and Campbell wind up carving out a role, though, Dallas could stand to add at the position. Veteran Brandin Cooks departed by returning to the Saints, leaving a vacancy after he spent two years as a veteran No. 2 option. The Cowboys could turn to free agency for an experienced pass-catcher; ex-Dallas wideout Amari Cooper, along with the likes of Keenan Allen, Tyler Lockett, Tyler Boyd and Elijah Moore remain unsigned.
Jones recently said the Cowboys were not finished in free agency, even though many teams often wait until after the draft to make moves on the open market at this point of the offseason. Efforts to make a short-term acquisition could very well include adding at the WR spot. Dallas currently has roughly $36.66MM in cap space, although internal moves like extensions for Micah Parsons and several others need to be accounted for as well.
“Yes. We could,” Jerry Jones confirmed (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) when asked if the Cowboys could make an addition prior to the draft. “We certainly don’t know that because to do either or, that I’m anticipating, involves other teams. But I would suspect we may do something.”
Indeed, a trade – like the one which brought in Jonathan Mingo from the Panthers in 2024 – could be explored to make a move or two at any number of positions. Receiver in particular looms as one to watch for as the offseason unfolds.
Panthers Planning S Addition
The Panthers made a number of lucrative additions on the defensive side of the ball early in free agency. That effort included a three-year deal for Tre’von Moehrig, but more can be expected at the safety position. 
Moehrig enjoyed a strong walk year in 2024, his fourth and final campaign with the Raiders. The 25-year-old posted 104 tackles, adding a pair of interceptions, 10 pass deflections and two fumble recoveries. Moehrig has established himself as a notable contributor near the line of scrimmage in particular, and a workload along those lines in Carolina would not come as a surprise.
The Panthers’ depth chart also includes veteran Nick Scott and 2024 UDFA Demani Richardson. Bringing in one or more contributors through free agency or the draft could bring about competition for a starting gig or depth in the secondary. Especially after losing Xavier Woods on the open market, adding a deep safety to complement Moehrig’s skillset would be a feasible approach.
“We’ll see what happens there,” general manager Dan Morgan said when speaking about the safety position (via the team’s website). “The numbers aren’t where they need to be there, but we’ll get there, and, you know, we just gotta stay patient, stay with the plan, and let it happen. But in terms of a ball hawk on the backside, yeah, we’re going to look for somebody, we’re going to look for players to take the ball away. Who that is, I don’t know, but we’re actively pursuing and we’ll be aggressive when the time comes.”
Carolina recently hosted free agent Julian Blackmon on a visit, and Morgan noted the same is true of Marcus Williams. Blackmon remained a Colts starter while playing on a one-year deal in 2024, while Williams was benched midway through the season before expectedly being released by the Ravens. A deal with one of those – or another experienced option like Justin Simmons – would add a starting-caliber option to the mix.
The Panthers are one of many teams which have conducted a pre-draft visit with Nick Emmanwori. The South Carolina product is seen as one of the two first-round safety prospects in this year’s class (Georgia’s Malaki Starks being the other), although taking him eighth overall would be seen by many as a reach. In any case, the Panthers are worth watching with respect to adding further at the safety spot before the season begins.